From Oyewale Oyelola, Ilorin
Women from different segments of the society including students, young and old as early as 8am on 7th March, 2018 were trooping in to Kwara State Banquet Hall, GRA, Ilorin to attend a programme organised by the Wife of Kwara State Governor, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed to mark 2018 International Women’s Day.
To some of the attendees, it was another opportunity to eat free meal, hangout with other women, listen to usually talk on the importance of women folks in the society, infact some attended the programme to take pictures with the Kwara First Lady.
However, the plans of governor’s wife who is also the founder of LEAH Foundation was entirely different as she has many goodies for women to push them forward in line 2018 theme-Press for Progress.
The day one event of two days programme was symposium where successful women in business, agriculture, entertainment among others shared their thoughts with the participants.
The speakers at the event include: Special Adviser to Minister of Agriculture, Mrs Mosunmola, successful business woman, Mrs Ini Abimbola, the First Mechanic in Nigeria and Lepacious Bose.
The speakers in the interactive session moderated by delectable and humble Omolewa Ahmed during their presentations agreed that value addition is the critical ingredient to make woman standout in the highly competitive society.
For instance, Mrs Ini Abimbola urged participants not to allow culture, religion and societal norms to limit them or talk them out of achieving their dreams in life. Mrs Abimbola said, she established her flourishing businesses because of her determination to succeed and quest to add value to the society.
While Mrs Mosunmola advised young women to embrace Agriculture business, noting that AgricBiz is not all about farming. According to her: “Agriculture Business is not just about farming. Farming is just a phase of the value chain. You can start your Agricbiz by packaging farm produces, help farmers to market their produces in modern ways, design accounting software for farms and lot more. No degree is irrelevant in Agriculture Value Chain, so step out of your comfort zone and harness your potentials for productive activities”.
She advised women to desist from using Social Media Channels for gossips or less productive activities, adding Social Media Channels should be use for business related things.
On her part, the first mechanic in Nigeria urged women, especially graduates not to be certificate conscious as the world is moving to the stage where vocational skills will be the driving force of the economic. She disclosed that she trained as a mechanic from an illiterate despite having two degrees.
After the questions and answers session, the first lady dazed the participants by announcing different empowerment programmes for 300 people through open balloting.
This changed the atmosphere in the hall as every participant begins prayer that God should smile on them. At end, 20 women were given full scholarships to study Automobile, ICT, Building and Heating and Ventilation at International Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship College. Another 20 participants would get necessary support to start farming while 50 SMEs will be assisted with N50,000-200,000 loan to expand their businesses in first phase of SMEs support.
The wife of Kwara State Governor does not just made beneficiaries smile but tears of joy flows from faces of five participants that got automatic employment at Kwara State Civil Service.
It’s noteworthy that the empowerment was not just public show or mere announcement for press, the beneficiaries of scholarships have filled the application forms and the documentation for SMEs was concluded on 14 March, 2018 just one week after the programme. While people given automatic employment has commenced necessary documentations and will resume duty soon.
Indeed, the programme aside from inspiring women to press for progress, it’s also turning point in many people’s lives.
The Kwara State First Lady and her team at LEAH Foundation should be conmended for packaging that wonderful event.
The first lady was full of praises for her husband, Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed for supporting the programme and thanked Kwara State Government, Bank of Agriculture and other partners that contributed to success of the programme.
I know the parting lines of Deaconness Omolewa Ahmed at the event would continue to resonate in mind of many participants in years to come. She said: ” I am virtuous woman. I am committed to adding value to other women in the society and I know you can also be successful if you are determined. Therefore, Press for progress”.
